8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

[redsox4evur]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

You want to go full Tigers huh?

I'll take almost anyone over Farrell. Only reason I brought up Leyland was because I heard it on the radio a couple weeks ago, after that ugly stretch they played losing to teams like the Twins, Angels, etc. That if they were to fire Farrell they should consider bringing in Leyland as a stop gap guy for the last 8 weeks of the season and then go get a real guy in the offseason.


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[thaima1shu]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

I cannot buy the "Sent to Tacoma for performance issues" excuse as it pertains to Walker. Especially since Wade LeBlanc is still in the rotation (Living off BABIP), we had Wade Miley and his 5+ ERA in the rotation all year, and Paxton had an ERA of over 8 his 1st 3 starts and an OPP Avg. pushing .330 his 1st 5 starts. Something else is up, they just used that ONE(!) bad start as an excuse to send him down. Maybe he ruffled some feathers somehow. I'm sure if we played in LA or NY the media would be all over it, like they were with Puig.

No, it's called common sense. He wasn't even struggling, 3.61 ERA before his last start. If it was performance based, that's the quickest hook, I've ever seen.

It's not even hard to find the Mariners' reasoning for demoting him. They stated it pretty clearly.

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-send-pitcher-taijuan-walker-to-class-aaa-tacoma/

Servais emphasized two points when explaining the decision to demote Walker.

First, Servais stressed the need for consistency given where the Mariners are in the playoff hunt.

Walker, 23, has a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts this season, but in his last five starts, his ERA is 5.96. He gave up six runs and lasted just four innings in his most recent start on Saturday, which came after he gave up five runs in four innings in his previous start.

“When you go out there and take the mound as one of five starting pitchers, there’s a certain level of expectation,” Servais said. “You have to go deeper in games. You’ve got to be competitive when you go out there. Just the consistency of it, not knowing what you’re going to get from time to time. He’s had a few nagging injuries, but where we’re at as a club dictated as much as anything on the situation.”

Second, Servais said the Mariners want to see Walker work on his mindset, his mentality. Can he follow the example of veteran Felix Hernandez and hang in there even when he’s not his sharpest?

“There are plenty of things for him to work on, but I think the biggest thing is you have to continue to compete,” Servais said. “And when you don’t have it on a particular night or you give up some runs early in the game, how do you stay in the game?

“We’ve seen what Felix has done here. It hasn’t been great for Felix since he’s been back. But you look up at the end of the game, and it’s the seventh inning, it’s the eighth inning, and he keeps us in the game. You learn that. That’s an experience thing over time, and Taijuan will certainly pick up on that.”

[Godgers12]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Performance based could mean a million things, they saw a hitch in his delivery, maybe they were uncomfortable with his arm slot or something, maybe he was laboring or not getting enough power in his legs. Like TripleCrown said, they see this guy a lot more than any of us do.

Wouldn't that be mechanical?

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Wouldn't that be mechanical?

Which effects performance...

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Wouldn't that be mechanical?

I basically was saying it could've been anything lol. They stated their reasons anyway.

[rkwittem]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

He was fine last year, pitched really well at times, Its way too early to talk about moving him to the pen permanently.

Gotta keep giving him opportunities.

Although I personally did not like the decision for him to make his first start since being demoted against the Red Sox, especially at Fenway.

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Really? Is this what you said about Joba and Phil Hughes, too? Who cares how old he is, teams like the Yankees can't afford to keep trotting guys like this out for years at a time and hope he "gets it." If they plan on making this a short rebuild, they better find suitable replacements this offseason and I would definitely explore trading him for a proven starter with years of control left on his contract (namely a guy like Sale but I'm sure others we haven't considered will be on the block, too.)

Him pitching well last year is mostly irrelevant. No one in the league knew what he threw.

Look at his starts vs. the only team he saw twice last year: Toronto.

Game 1, August 16: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (at Rogers Centre)
Game 2, September 11: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (at Yankee Stadium)

How about 2016: (he's seen Boston twice)

Game 1, May 8: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (at Yankee Stadium)
Game 2, August 9: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (at Fenway)

Is this a small sample size? Maybe, but it shows to me that last year's 4.37 FIP performance isn't that much better than this year's 4.52 FIP.

The guy has 2 decent pitches. The fastball is hard, but straight, which is why it's not a "great" pitch. Straight and fast is fine when you're Aroldis Chapman. The margin for error drops precipitously once you're not throwing 100. The other one is some kind of slider/cutter thing that is basically totally useless against LHB's. Where's the changeup? I thought I read some scouting report that said he has one. You kind of need 3 pitches if you're going to stick in a big league rotation, and I don't see one from him, which is why I said that the bullpen is a better future for him.

I don't see any reason to expect improvement from him if he tries to be a 2-pitch starter.

The other one is some kind slider/cutter thing that is basically totally useless against LHB's. Where's the changeup? I thought I read some scouting report that said he has one. You kind of need 3 pitches if you're going to stick in a big league rotation, and I don't see one from him, which is why I said that perhaps the bullpen is a better future for him.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Like I said he has 22 total outings under his belt in the majors. He's struggled mightily this year, doesn't mean you decide HR can't crack it as a starter. That's ridiculous.

Maybe he flames out like Phil Hughes, or maybe he doesn't, only way to find out is to keep giving him opportunities.

Hell, you could argue Pineda should have been demoted earlier in the season, he was awful, but he figured things out, and has been much better.

I have no problem giving him opportunities in the bullpen to build his confidence, which I agreed on initially. But correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your saying give up on him a as a starting pitcher. And that's crazy.

Dude might be the next Arrieta and maybe not, but now's the time to figure out whether can bring to the table, it's not as if the Yankees are going for it now.

Sev got demoted today too, which I disagree with.

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[DieHardYankee26]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

I read that it has something to do with service years, we get another year of control before his free agency if he stays down until September.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

I read that it has something to do with service years, we get another year of control before his free agency if he stays down until September.

Certainly plays into the equation. Of course if he strikes out 10 red Sox hitters last night, he'd still be on an MLB roster.



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[TripleCrown9]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

For all the talk about retiring or not medically cleared, etc, etc, Prince Fielder just announced that he would no longer be able to continue playing baseball.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Eovaldi hurt, bullpen game now, I hate this.

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[steelerfan]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Astros DFA Carlos Gomez

I tried to hold out hope that his rib injury was the problem early in the season and he did play better for awhile after coming off the DL. His time with the Astros is a complete failure.

[redsox4evur]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Yankees fans, what are your thoughts on Girardi's comments last about A-Rod and farewell tours? He basically said he doesn't care about them.


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[DamnYanks2]

Re: 8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

Yankees fans, what are your thoughts on Girardi's comments last about A-Rod and farewell tours? He basically said he doesn't care about them.


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I despise it, and he's being hypocritical, if he didn't play Jeter in his final at bats, he would have been crucified, I realize Arod has been a thorn in Girardi's side, but they are really treating arod like a piece of ****, play the man, there's nothing to lose.

And yet Girardi has no problem starting Hicks every damn game.

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[redsox4evur]

8/8 - 8/21 Game Discussion Thread

I despise it, and he's being hypocritical, if he didn't play Jeter in his final at bats, he would have been crucified, I realize Arod has been a thorn in Girardi's side, but they are really treating arod like a piece of ****, play the man, there's nothing to lose.

And yet Girardi has no problem starting Hicks every damn game.

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Yea that's why I asked. Because he played Jeter for like 145 games in 2014. And Jeter played bad for most the year. As shown in this tweet from Ken Rosenthal.



And like you said there's nothing to lose. You guys are playing Headley at third, it's not like he is some stud prospect that needs ABs. Or even use him as a pinch hitter for Hicks or Tex last night in the 9th. Tex was 0-4 and had only faced 12 pitches last night before he his AB in the 9th.


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